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From inspiration to performance
Students hear their music compositions come to life through string quartet
By Shondiin Silversmith
Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK, Sept. 4, 2014
(Times photo – Donovan Quintero)
TOP: Members from the Grand Canyon music festival from left; Ralph Farris, Tema Watstein, Kip Jones and Dorothy Lawson perform at the Navajo Nation Museum on Aug. 27.
BOTTOM: Michael Begay listens to his music being played on Aug. 27 at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock.
The Native American Composer Apprentice Project has been a part of the event for the past 14 years, according to Artistic Director Clare Hoffman.
Through the program, composers visit schools across the Navajo Nation and teach music composition. Hoffman said their composers-in-residence go to the schools and take the students through the process of composing a song.
The students have to write a piece that is at least two minutes long, Hoffman added.
The Grand Canyon Music Festival’s composer-in-residence Raven Chacon has been working with NACAP for the past 10 years. Chacon said half the students he teaches come from schools that don’t have a music or art program...
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